Cops release photos of suspect in attempted sexual assault

Raw footage of the scene of a Feb. 24 South Side CTA Red Line attempted sexual assault of a woman, and two surveillance photos of the suspect from police. (WGN TV)

Raw footage of the scene of a Feb. 24 South Side CTA Red Line attempted sexual assault of a woman, and two surveillance photos of the suspect from police. (WGN TV)

Staff report

Police have released two surveillance photos of a man wanted in the attempted sexual assault of a woman who had just left a South Side CTA station.

On Sunday, Feb. 24 at about 4:25 a.m. the 22-year-old woman left a CTA Red Line station and the man tried to engage her in conversation in the 0-100 block of East Garfield Boulevard, police said Wednesday.

The woman ignored the man and walked west on 55th Street, where the man grabbed her jacket from behind, threw her to the ground and tried to assault her, police said.

The woman was able to fight him off, and the man fled back toward the Red Line terminal, according to a police alert.

The alert describes the suspect as Middle Eastern or Hispanic, 25-30 years old, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and 150-170 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes, a medium complexion, mustache and goatee.

He was wearing a gray, collared sweat shirt with dark "Old Navy" lettering across the front and blue jeans, and he might have cuts or bruising to the face or head, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.